communities NCCWN Report for 2018
Transcript of communities NCCWN Report for 2018
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SUPPORTING WOMEN’S EQUALITY & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
NCCWN Chair Signature:
Support Scheme to enhance inclusion of women in communities
NCCWN Report for 2018
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Disadvantaged women are the target group for all NCCWN Projects – in the main, NCCWN Projects
recognise disadvantage in relation to women’s socio-economic circumstances. In addition, rural
Projects work with women who are often further disadvantaged through social isolation and lack of
access to supports and services. Marginalised women are identified through outreach, consultation,
local statistics and information. NCCWN Projects aim to ensure that all local courses they provide
are needs-based. Prior to course development, consultations and outreach is undertaken by local
NCCWN staff and local needs are identified. Courses are advertised locally through local media
(print and radio), social media, other community organisations, noticeboards, word of mouth, etc.
DJE core funding enables the NCCWN Board to employ 46 staff, 2 at national level and 44 locally
throughout the 17 project areas. To absorb past funding cuts, staff hours have been cut significantly
– only 2 staff members are full-time with 44 working part-time. This has impacted on the services
and supports that local staff can provide. Most Projects, while aware of the needs, are unable to
open on a full-time basis and this has impacted on their capacity and resources. At local level,
NCCWN staff outreach and engage women experiencing disadvantage and leverage in programme
funding to support women’s equality and voice in their communities.
In 2018, NCCWN Projects developed and delivered local area workplans based on four strategic
areas of priority; Engagement, Participation, Policy and Equality and Organisational Development &
Sustainability. The objectives and actions within these strategic areas are in line with, and indeed
reflected in, the National Strategy for Women & Girls 2017-2020 whose overall goal is ‘to change
attitudes and practices preventing women’s and girl’s full participation in education, employment
and public life, at all levels, and to improve services for women and girls, with priority given to the
needs of those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, the poorest outcomes’.
Actions undertaken by NCCWN Projects in 2018 under the area of Engagement support and help
progress the following National Strategy for Women & Girls (NSWG) 2017-2020 high level objectives
to:
Advance socio-economic equality for women and girls
Advance the physical and mental health and well-being of women and girls
Ensure the visibility in society of women and girls, and their equal and active citizenship
Advance women in leadership at all levels
Combat violence against women
Embed gender equality in decision-making
NCCWN Strategic Priority 1: Engagement
Engage with women experiencing disadvantage through outreach and predevelopment work to
reduce isolation, increase confidence, build relationships and empower women.
Objectives Actions
To support marginalised women to overcome the barriers that prevent them from reaching
Develop outreach strategies to engage the most marginalised and isolated women to support their participation.
Carry out needs assessments to identify appropriate services and supports
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Throughout 2018, NCCWN Projects continued to outreach to the most marginalised women in their
areas. Women were supported within the Projects or signposted to other services and supports based
on identified needs. Supports to women ranged from counselling, childcare, parenting, domestic
abuse, mentoring, to FEAD distribution, mental health and well woman clinics and women’s group
support etc. Project staff worked with women in groups and individually, supporting and encouraging
them to access services and supports available in their communities.
Projects also used a variety of methods to promote and facilitate access to services, including
newsletters, media, websites and social media, one-to-one engagements, referrals and word of
mouth. Agencies that projects referred to include training centres, VTOS, NALA, Women’s Aid,
Women’s refuges, MABs, Pieta House, Legal Aid, SICAP, Homecare Agencies, Social Workers etc.
With no programme funding available to them, our Projects worked hard to try and source funding
from a variety of sources. Money leveraged allowed them to deliver a range of engagement
opportunities and capacity building and tailored learning activities, often involving extensive outreach
work in marginalised communities.
Such activities included the provision of events, information and training aimed at women. These
events are also used to disseminate information and create awareness regarding their project, or
issues of relevance to women in their areas; and to consult with them on issues that may be of concern
or affecting them.
their full potential in society
Provide services and supports where needed to address barriers
Facilitate access through referrals to existing services and supports available.
To engage, support and encourage women to participate in all aspects of community life
Retain and develop our presence in local communities, providing first point of contact including drop-in centres
To engage women and promote women’s equality
Organise events and information sessions/opportunities that provide marginalised women, with information on specific issues that affect them. (E.g. Health screening, education, VAW services) and referring or signposting to existing services.
Support the development of networking and support structures for women in local communities.
To raise awareness of women’s equality issues
Use a collective approach to raising awareness by marking key dates and engaging women in a range of campaigns of key dates and events for women i.e. International Women’s Day, Rural Women’s Day, 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women etc.
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Over 150 events including information days/sessions, enrolment days, coffee mornings, open days,
fundraisers, awareness-raising events and celebration days were held, in addition to awareness raising
campaigns on issues such as; Cervical and Breast Cancer Awareness, 16 Days of Action Opposing
Violence Against Women, Gender Equality Awareness, Mental Health, End Direct Provision, Pension
Equality, Open Conversations on Article 41.2, The Elephant Collective, Human Trafficking, Women and
100 Years of the Vote and various local campaigns. Awareness of these campaigns was raised by
phone, email, posters, media, social media and personal presentation.
In the context of the NSWG, these events help advance the physical and mental health and wellbeing
of women and girls while ongoing work on highlighting violence against women and girls and support
services available to them, support NSWG actions to combat violence against women.
Other of methods of engagement with women in our communities included:
Enabling organisations such as MABs, Citizens Information Services, Community Gardaí, ETBs
and domestic violence services to hold outreach clinics in Projects.
Participating in FEAD and providing food parcels and Back to School packs to women/families
in need in their communities.
Providing physical space and administration for support groups such as ‘Living with Addiction’
(for family members of addicts), ELLA (Lesbian & Bi-sexual women), GROW (overcoming
mental health problems)
Operating positive mental health support groups such as ‘Mind Matters’ and ‘Bosom Buddies’
Supporting women’s groups and supporting women to participate in, contribute to and lead
local community groups and committees.
International Women’s Day (8th March) events were hosted by all 17 NCCWN Women’s Projects which
provided opportunities to outreach, highlight women’s equality issues and raise the profile of the
NCCWN work at local level and celebrate women’s achievements. The IWD theme for 2018 was
‘#PressForProgress’.
Most NCCWN Projects operate a ‘Drop In’ service to women in their communities while all operate
an ‘Open Door’ policy which means they welcome women into the project at any time during its
open hours.
Some NCCWN Projects provide Counselling Services in their communities with over 250 women
availing of these low-cost services in 2018. Funding for these services is leveraged from Tusla and
shortfalls raised by fundraising efforts in the projects providing the service. Facilitating services like
this are of huge importance in rural areas where the distance to the nearest town/urban centre
would make counselling hard to access.
Over half of NCCWN Projects produced newsletters, distributing them by hand, door-to-door, mail
drops, community centres, libraries and by electronic means on email and social media.
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NCCWN Events 2018
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NCCWN Strategic Priority 2: Participation
Facilitate progression of women experiencing disadvantage from engagement to active
participation
Objectives Actions
To mobilise women, raising their consciousness of the issues affecting them
Promote and support the engagement of women experiencing disadvantage to participate in women centred capacity building programmes.
To build women’s capacity
to represent the collective
concerns of women
especially those from
marginalised communities
Design and carry out actions that support and provide opportunities that enable women to develop their potential and make informed choices about their future. Actions to include consciousness raising, empowerment, feminism and equality.
Provide women’s community education programmes. Support and organise the delivery of a range of accessible formal and non-formal community education and training programmes, that are tailored to meet the needs of women in our communities
To represent and support
women’s representation
and participation in a range
of relevant structures
Identify relevant local structures for women’s participation including PPNs, local school’s committees, LCDCs, partnerships, ETBs where women’s participation
Support participation of new and existing women’s groups and build capacity by supporting volunteers with skills to participate on community policy and decision-making fora.
To challenge barriers to women’s participation locally, regionally and nationally
Support women to name barriers to their participation and work with relevant organisations to identify needs and reduce barriers to women’s participation
Community education is a way of working for many Projects in the NCCWN. Often our projects are
the only provider of education and training specifically designed to cater for disadvantaged women
in an area. In recognition of women in their role as primary carers, our Projects plan, promote and
deliver a range of accredited and non-accredited education programmes in response to the
identified needs in a local area.
Again, our Projects sourced funding to deliver a range of capacity building and tailored learning
activities, often involving extensive outreach work in marginalised communities. Projects worked on
a one-to-one basis with women, supporting and encouraging them to access progression routes.
Projects have found that this type of work can act as a catalyst to further education and
development opportunities. In 2018, over €194,000 was leveraged to deliver education, training and
supports for over 5,000 participants.
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NCCWN Projects also worked with NALA and their local ETBs to provide relevant courses for women.
ETBs are supported to hold outreach clinics in local projects, where that need has been identified.
The women, NCCWN Projects work with, often have a fear of engaging in formal education
programmes due to earlier negative experiences in formal education. Projects work at a personal
level with women, encouraging them to access the services available to them.
A range of accredited courses were offered from QQI components, FETAC modules in information
technology, language and culture, retail sales, applied psychology and social studies. Non-accredited
courses included craft courses, language classes, self-development, fitness and cookery.
Throughout 2018, eight NCCWN projects continued to deliver local STEPS courses for women under
PEIL (Programme for Employability, Inclusion & Learning 2014-2020) a series of training
opportunities on self-development and work-related skills, to assist a return to the labour market
and entrepreneurship. This positive action, in line with the National Strategy for Women & Girls,
seeks to increase access to training opportunities for women and to bring the employment rate for
women closer to 69-71% to meet the Europe 2020 target for women.
These actions also further support NSWG’ actions to improve the position of women on low pay
and/or in precarious or low work hours. Furthermore, socially excluded women, particularly those
living in poverty, are supported to access education, training and employment opportunities.
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Courses/Programmes 2018
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NCCWN Projects identify and actively participate in local social inclusion and education and training
networks to highlight the needs of local disadvantaged women and promote the activities and
services that local education and training organisations have to offer. In 2018,
committees/interagency groups with NCCWN members included family support networks,
community education networks, training networks, mental health and domestic violence networks
to public participation networks, childcare networks and committees, feminist networks, women in
business, social inclusion and other interagency groups.
Such participation of women helps put a greater focus on gender issues and not only women’s
participation in general, but on the voices of socially excluded women at a community level and in
policy and decision-making fora. The participation of women at a community level supports the
progression of the NSWG objective of ensuring the visibility in society of women and girls, and their
Equal and Active Citizenship in Irish society.
NCCWN local, regional and national structures also further provide an effective framework for
challenging barriers by building capacity and enabling women not usually heard to have a voice.
Projects have identified that one of the main barriers to women’s participation is childcare. Projects
support women to access affordable childcare through provision of places at childcare facilities
attached to our Projects, or by signposting women to community childcare in their areas thereby
improving access to these opportunities for many disadvantaged women. Some of our Projects offer
crèche, preschool and afterschool services. In 2018, NCCWN staff supported the provision of four
childcare centres with 178 childcare places.
Throughout 2018, Projects held information evenings with women and the local training and
employment service providers (i.e. LEADER/Skillsnet officers) to encourage women to avail of
existing services in their area. Throughout the country, we provided work experience opportunities
and CE/Tus/JI placements for marginalised women. Projects also supported women in job readiness
through: C.V. preparation, provision of training spaces for relevant services to engage and
signposted them to local employment services. They provided training and employment
opportunities through running programmes such as BTEI, EWM and Local Training Initiatives (LTI)
and through providing work experience and training in social enterprises such as project cafes and
charity shops. To provide access to information and supports, some of our Projects offer space for
local LES offices and self-employed holistic therapists to operate from.
Again, these actions also help progress NSWG actions to improve the position of women on low pay
and/or in precarious or low work hours. Furthermore, socially excluded women, particularly those
living in poverty, are supported to access education, training and employment opportunities.
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NCCWN Strategic Priority 3: Policy & Equality
Develop strategies to promote women’s equality and inclusion and highlight policy issues
Objectives Actions
To promote disadvantaged women’s equality and inclusion locally and nationally
Research, identify and articulate the needs of disadvantaged women at decision making arenas locally, regionally and nationally, to influence the development of policies and decisions that affect their lives.
To highlight the needs and perspectives of disadvantaged women by challenging inequalities
Develop relevant awareness raising events and campaigns
Engage with all Government Departments on issues in relation to women
To collaborate and work in partnership on relevant representational structures in relation to women’s equality issues
Strategically collaborate and work in partnership with local, regional and national organisations on relevant and agreed objectives to benefit disadvantaged women
Feed into policy development in relation to women experiencing disadvantage through representations, submissions and contributions to policy documents
Join and become active in the Community Platform
To build capacity of NCCWN Projects to outreach, engage and support participation of women experiencing disadvantage
Build and strengthen the capacity of local women to identify and voice their concerns and participate in society.
To highlight women’s equality issues
Develop and effectively implement local area work plans and results framework, based on local needs and in line with agreed national equality priorities.
NCCWN Women’s Projects continue to play a critical role in raising awareness of gender equality
through engagement with local development companies, rural development agencies and other
local, regional and national bodies tasked with community and local development.
The Women’s Equality & Development Programme provides an opportunity for greater visibility for
women in poverty and living in disadvantaged communities.
In 2018, NCCWN have engaged and participated in policy and equality issues/campaigns that give
women the confidence to become more active citizens as they become aware of how their
participation in society and their collective voice can affect policies/decisions at government level.
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NCCWN Projects have the capacity and the experience to act as a link between national policy
actions and what happens on the ground. The local workplans of our projects respond to locally
identified needs but are also informed by national policies such as: Better Outcomes, Brighter
Futures: the national policy framework for children and young people, National Physical Activity Plan
for Ireland, LGBTI Inclusion Strategy, Connecting for Life: Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce
Suicide 2015-2020, National Disability Inclusion Strategy, Our Communities: A framework policy for
local and community development in Ireland, Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and
Gender-based Violence 2016-2021
NCCWN Projects work collaboratively in their area to ensure that they resource individuals and
communities that are most socially excluded to access participate and become involved with policy,
practice and decision-making processes on matters affecting them and their local community.
The NCCWN Women’s Projects provide opportunities for greater influence and synergies with local
government structures, and particularly in ensuring that gender equality is mainstreamed across
local government and through the work of local community and development organisations.
Projects have actively participated in planning and consultation workshops feeding into Local
Community Development Plans, ensuring that the voice of women was heard at local planning and
decision-making tables.
Alignment and the restructuring of local government in recent years has meant changes in many of
the areas in which NCCWN works, however some project staff have been elected onto the new Local
Community Development Committee and Public Participation Networks in their area while others
are members of local community development and social inclusion working groups.
A major strength of NCCWN is the way in which it effectively connects women at the local level to a
strategic role at the national level, and in turn links national priorities to the local level. NCCWN staff
represented women’s affairs at local level and participated in decision making structures. NCCWN
staff and advisory committee members sat on boards and committees including LDC Boards, RAPID
AITs, PPNs, Youth Forum, local education networks.
At a national level, the NCCWN are a member of the NSWG Strategic Committee and attended three
Committee meetings in 2018. NCCWN were represented on the National Women’s Council of
Ireland (NWCI)’s Board of Management, the Women Human Rights Alliance (WHRA), Community
Work Ireland (CWI), Community Platform and the Irish Observatory on Violence against Women.
NCCWN were a member of the Policy Advisory Group on Women in Local Government and
Development looking at women’s equality, engagement and participation in local and community
structures. NCCWN were also a member of the working group overseeing the Training Links
Network – this project aims to bring a diversity of women who are currently involved or are
interested in getting more involved in representation and participation in their local communities
together, to access training, peer support and advocate for women’s equality and social change.
Local NCCWN Projects hosted and/or supported local workshops in their areas. At the NWCI AGM,
the NCCWN’ motion calling on NWCI to support women’s community development organisations,
specifically those outside the current structures was passed. NCCWN and NWCI jointly delivered an
interactive workshop on feminism and community practice at World Community Development
Conference in June 2018. NCCWN attended Oversight Group on Ireland’s Women, Peace & Security
meeting. Local NCCWN Project staff, with women from direct provision, participated in Women,
Peace & Security Roadshow in Cork and a submission was made to the Department
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NCCWN Strategic Priority Area 4: Organisational Development & Sustainability
Develop the NCCWN to be able to fulfil its objectives and to ensure the sustainability of the
organisation
Objectives Actions
To build capacity of NCCWN management to support the NCCWN locally and nationally to develop and enhance operational capacity
Strengthen the NCCWN Board by ongoing capacity building and upskilling
Ensure highest levels of governance and accountability
Ensure the NCCWN Board are complying with employment responsibilities and obligations
To ensure the sustainability of NCCWN
Provide staff development and training
Ensure feedback mechanisms are in place to support communications between local and national structures
Ensure Advisory Groups locally are supported to participate in governance structures at local and national level.
Identify organisational needs and develop strategies to ensure adequate resources to support the sustainability of the organisation
To develop and consolidate the collective approach of the NCCWN
Develop new organisational strategic plan reflective of the organisations vision & mission and of changing structures
Continue to maintain and develop robust planning and reporting processes and procedures
To develop a national profile
Relaunch NCCWN at national level to develop a national profile under the new Department
Develop a collective NCCWN brand
To build capacity of NCCWN management and staff to inform and input to organisational and policy development
Establish and agree a format for projects to promote the mission and vision of NCCWN
Coordinate local actions and promote and brand these actions under the banner of NCCWN
Eight NCCWN Board meetings were held in 2018. Each Board meeting addressed organisational,
policy and employment issues. The meetings also provided a forum to discuss any training and
development needs. NCCWN AGM was held on 26th October 2018.
Organisational policies and procedures were reviewed and updated throughout 2018.
Five staff members were recruited in 2018.
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In line with DJE GED internal audit recommendations, NCCWN had two meetings with DJE officials in
2018.
NCCWN made a pre-budget submission seeking support for sustainability of NCCWN
Social media training was provided for NCCWN staff across all the projects. Work also took place on
the national NCCWN social media page with all local projects feeding in and posting upcoming
events.
Local NCCWN projects continued to strengthen the NCCWN branding with the NCCWN logo being
displayed locally on all promotional material, signage and letterheads.
DJE supported the centralisation of the NCCWN payroll by resourcing national financial coordinator
to work an extra two days per week. From February 2018, the financial coordinator worked four
days per week at national level and, as part of her role, centralised payroll. The centralisation of
payroll freed up local administrators to work locally and support the work on the ground, which is a
positive outcome for both NCCWN staff and for ensuring the sustainability of NCCWN into the
future. All other aspects of local administration remained at local level. Prior to centralisation,
payroll procedures had been updated and circulated to staff
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NCCWN ANNUAL QUANTITATIVE REPORT 2018
ENGAGEMENT
Consultation/Needs Analysis
All NCCWN projects held events in 2018 which they also used as a means of consulting with women
in their area regarding their needs, what they would like to see happening in their area etc. They also
use the events to disseminate information and create awareness regarding their project or issues of
relevance to women in their areas.
These events include information days/sessions, enrolment days, coffee mornings, open days,
fundraisers, awareness-raising events.
Referrals
NCCWN projects refer women to other statutory agencies and services and community organisations
and in turn also receive referrals from agencies.
Referrals Received From Referrals Made To
Tusla Social Workers Self-Referrals Saoirse Women’s Refuges Centre for Unemployed Public Health Nurse Mental Health Service Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme HSE Employ-ability Clondalkin Mental Health CDPs FRCs Adult Guidance Tusla Schools ETBs Social Services
ETBs Free Legal Aid University Access Officer Citizen’s Information Women’s Aid HSE Addiction Services Drug & Alcohol Task Forces CDPs St. Vincent de Paul HSE Social Workers Jobs Club Alzheimer Society ETBs Childcare Services HSE Mental Health Adult Services Training Services Employ-ability Counselling FRCs
Consultation/Information Meetings/Events
Numbers of participants
149 consultation/information meetings/events were held locally
4,718 women engaged through these events in 2018
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Haven Services St. Vincent de Paul HSE Social Workers HSE Addiction Services Barnardos TUS WIT Counselling Services Local Development Company DSP Horizon ACE Enterprise Centre Jobpath Home School Liaison Intero Equality Aware Focus Ireland Housing Assistance
Adult Guidance Services VTOS Youthreach Tusla Meitheal Pavee Point Local Development Companies MABs Adult Literacy Services Tallaght Rehabilitation Schools GPs Women’s Groups Cancer Support Local Authority Housing Officer Gardai Rape Crisis Centres Women’s Refuges Simon Community Women’s 5050
1,194 REFERRALS RECEIVED IN 2018 1,132 REFERRALS MADE IN 2018
Services/ Supports
11 NCCWN Projects operate a ‘Drop In’ service to women in their communities while the
remainder all operate an ‘Open Door’ policy which means they welcome women into the
project at any time during its open hours. At least 2,214 women availed of this service during
2018.
4 NCCWN Projects provide a childcare service offering 273 childcare places in their
communities. These places are funded by Pobal, ECCE, HSE and fees.
6 NCCWN Projects provide a Counselling Service in their communities with 266 women
availing of this low-cost service. €35,900 funding for the service was leveraged from Tusla in
2018 and further funds raised by fundraising efforts in the projects providing the service.
Over 1,000 sessions were delivered in 2018.
Other supports offered by NCCWN Projects include: advice, signposting, one-to-one support
and guidance, listening ear, accessing information, domestic violence clinics, mother &
toddler groups, accessing community supports, making applications, admin for groups, well-
woman clinic, personal development, citizens information, jobs club, digital skills training,
FEAD distribution
Over 70% of NCCWN Projects produced a newsletter in 2018, distributing them by hand,
door-to-door, mail drops, community centres, libraries and by electronic means on email
and social media. All projects distribute their newsletter electronically and at least 10,000 by
paper.
NCCWN Projects made 12,945 personal engagements with women in 2018 with additional
engagements made by phone, text and reaching out via social media.
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PARTICIPATION
70% of NCCWN Projects leveraged in funding and/or tutor hours to deliver
courses/workshops/activities for women in their local areas. Local NCCWN Projects are continuously
trying to source funding to provide a wide range of needs-based courses/workshops. Funding is
restricted for certain activities, but these are still within our workplan.
Accredited Courses
QQI Level 3 General Learning QQI Level 3 Personal Effectiveness QQI Level 3 Word Processing QQI Level 3 Office Admin QQI Level 3 Retail Practices & Sales QQI Level 3 Communications QQI Level 3 Employability Skills QQI Level 4 ESOL QQI Level 4 Employability Skills QQI Level 4 Food Safety QQI Level 4 Retail Sales QQI Level 4 Office Skills QQI Level 4 Communications QQI Level 4 Information Processing QQI Level 5 Healthcare QQI Level 5 Childcare QQI Level 5 Information Processing QQI Level 5 Special Needs Assisting QQI Level 5 Communications QQI Level 5 Intercultural Studies QQI Level 5 IT QQI Level 5 Conflict Resolution QQI Level 5 Retail Practices & Sales QQI Level 6 Childcare QQI Level 6 Healthcare
Unaccredited Courses/Workshops
Women in the Home One to One Computers Communication Through Drama Marshall Arts Pathways to Employment Recycling & Environmental Protection Safetalk Internet & Email Career Preparation Healthy Greener You Props & Theatre Design Grow your Own
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Human Rights Equality Living History Women into Business Safety on Social Media Feminist Issues Facilitator Training Everyday Maths Respecting Boundaries Wills for Women
Women’s Health & Well Being Courses/Workshops
Resilience Boosts Mindfulness & Yoga Intercultural Jive Skincare Meditation Auricular Acupuncture Pilates Yoga Balancing the Wheel of Life Social Dancing Skills for Confidence Healthy Sexuality LGBT Fuel Food – Healthy Eating Motion is Lotion – physio for women Taking Control Fashion & Frolics Reproductive Rights First Aid Manual Handling Your Mental Health
Arts/Crafts/Social Group work
DIY Woodwork Basket making Decoupage Flower Arranging Felting Art on Canvas Art Quilling Card Making Needles & Pins Knitting & Crochet Christmas Workshops Learn to Play Cards Jewellery Making Book Club Quilting
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Singing Social Dancing Drama Cookery
Over 50% of NCCWN Projects offer work experience opportunities to women in their
communities within their projects. This work experience includes: childcare, student
placements, homecare, administration, reception, shop assistant in charity shop,
volunteering at events, CE schemes and teaching practice.
75% of NCCWN Projects supported women’s groups in their communities this quarter by
providing space, activities, administration, funding applications, facilitation of meetings etc.
There were 12,794 participants in NCCWN project activities in 2018.
POLICY & EQUALITY Women’s Representation at Local, Regional & National Level
NCCWN Project staff represent their projects and the women of their communities on various local
planning decision-making fora, committees and interagency groups. These groups include: Public
Participation Networks, Childcare Centres, Family Resource Centres, Community Network Meetings,
Drugs Task forces, Equality Networks, County Councils, Education & Training Boards, Migrant
Support Groups, Violence Against Women Networks, Local Development Companies, Child & Family
Support Networks, Meitheals, Regeneration Networks, Cultural Networks, and a wide range of local
community organisations committees.
In 2018 NCCWN Project staff attended 1,069 representational meetings in their local communities.
Nationally, NCCWN representation in 2018 included:
NCCWN are represented on the NWCI Board, Women’s Human Rights Alliance (WHRA), Irish
Observatory on Violence against Women, Community Work Ireland (CWI) and the Community
Platform.
NCCWN are a member of the NSWG Implementation Committee and of the NGO Sub-Group of
the Committee and attended meetings on 25th January, 13th June and 3rd October 2018.
NCCWN are a member of the Policy Advisory Group on Women in Local Government and
Development looking at women’s equality, engagement and participation in local and
community structures.
NCCWN are a member of the working group overseeing the Training Links Network – NWCI
worker is the Network Coordinator. The project aims to bring a diversity of women who are
Number of courses/ workshops running in
2018
Number of participants in these courses
350 approx. At least 3,000
Total number of women’s groups supported in 2018
Number of women participating in women’s groups supported by NCCWN locally
92 At least 950
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currently involved or are interested in getting more involved in representation and participation
in their local communities together, to access training, peer support and advocate for women’s
equality and social change. Local NCCWN Projects are supporting local workshops.
The Dublin region projects and National Coordinator met with Minister Katherine Zappone on
15th June. She recognised the value of our organisation’s work and has committed her
continued support to the NCCWN.
World Community Development Conference – DJE supported NCCWN staff members to attend
this conference by covering the cost of 17 tickets. The conference, organised by CWI, took place
in Maynooth on 25th, 26th & 27th June. NCCWN and NWCI delivered an interactive workshop at
the conference on feminism and community practice.
The NCCWN participated in National and Community Development Policy Workshop and fed
into online consultation to ensure inclusion of objectives and actions in relation to marginalised
women’s equality and development.
NCCWN attended a meeting of the Oversight Group on Ireland’s Women, Peace & Security.
Local NCCWN Project staff, with women from direct provision, participated in Women, Peace &
Security Roadshow in Cork and a submission was made to the Department
The NCCWN motion calling on NWCI to support women’s community development, specifically
those outside of current structures was passed at the NWCI AGM
Local NCCWN Projects hosted open conversations on ‘Women in the Home’ in their local
communities.
NCCWN sent letter to Minister of Education and Skills supporting AONTAS campaign calling for
QQI fees waiver for not-for-profit organisations.
ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABILITY NCCWN held eight board meetings in 2018
The 2018 NCCWN AGM was held on 26th October
Five new staff members were recruited in 2018
A national meeting for NCCWN staff took place on 26th February
Training on social media was provided for NCCWN staff (30) to support staff to increase NCCWN
visibility through social media
2017 NCCWN Audited Accounts, 2017 Annual Report and 2018 Operational Plan were submitted
to DJE and the 2018 DJE Contract with NCCWN was signed
NCCWN submitted pre budget proposal seeking support for sustainability of NCCWN.
NCCWN Board reviewed and updated policies and procedures, including recruitment processes
and procedures in 2018. Policies, including Safeguarding Children, Young People & Vulnerable
Adults and Data Protection, were reviewed, updated and circulated to all Projects
NCCWN met with DJE GED officials twice in 2018 in line with GED’s internal audit’
recommendations
NCCWN Internal Audit visits – National Coordinator and Financial Coordinator carried out audit
visits in NCCWN SWAN and NCCWN North Leitrim during 2018
Gender Equality Activity of the European Social Fund (ESF) Programme for Employability,
Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 – NCCWN continued to deliver PEIL through seven of
their local Projects. This programme was aimed at providing employment supports for women
in their communities who are most distanced from the labour market.